From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Upstate S.C.

I know this may seem alittle silly but is the SECOND true leaf the main vine. I know that we plant our pumpkins in the direction of the SECOND true leaf. Is the the main or does the main come in later above this leaf. I am just qurious. What is the best way to idenitify the main vine early on.

5/28/2009 10:16:45 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Second True Leaf is the 'start' of the vine. By 4th leaf you can definitely tell that it's there.

First leaf sort of sits there, second stretches way out and gets bigger and bigger, and at the base of that one will pop up third with fourth right behind.

5/28/2009 10:46:05 PM

Upstate S.C.

Okie Gal, I think I understand you thanks, however could you take a look at my diary pics, and see if you can make out the main vines and point them out..If not thanks anyway for the info.

5/28/2009 10:49:15 PM

Rhode Island

the main will develope after or above the second true leaf.
plants that went ito the ground by aroung may 5 th should all have at least a one ft main running.
you should have already had the main by now. the main will have a small leaf set developing at the tip. later on the feelers will also appear at the tip.

5/28/2009 10:49:24 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Okay, looked. Ex, #93, there's a leafstem coming off about 8 oclock, and there's a tiny leaf NE of there, that is your main, between those two points.

You have a difficulty, you have short stout vines right now and very big leaves... so it might be hard to see. You have nice vines starting on every one, just that your leaves are so close together. On #100, the tendrils are attached at the base of leaves, what they're coming off of is your main. The very first tendrils you see will always come off your main...

Give the plants another week and they should lengthen space between each leaf joint and you will definitely know where the main is :)

5/28/2009 10:57:58 PM

Upstate S.C.

Okie, and pap, thanks so very much. The 812 and the 1279 were both put in the ground on time. The 820 was a replacement. After a second look I took notice to were the Tendrils were growing from. There is a storm outside right now, however tommorow I will go out and took at the plants closer. Thanks for the help again.

5/28/2009 11:35:25 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Chris, have a look at the attached link. It shows where I needed to cut off the second true leaf in order for the vine to start settling down correctly.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=106212

Hope that helps.

5/29/2009 1:09:03 AM

Albert County, New Brunswick,CANADA

So the purpose of the "sticks' when the main is identified is to point the pumpkin in the proper direction? (referring to sticks seen in some photos inside shelters propped around the leaves like a girl in curlers).
I have a tendril-I'm gonna go out and see if I'm heading the right way......

5/29/2009 9:03:36 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Point vine in right direction, hold down vine or coax it down, yes.

Some use crossed bamboo sticks, I use corners off white plastic coat hangers for regular pinning and sticks when I need height to coax something down(if I fall I do not want to fall onto sharp stuff!)

5/29/2009 10:46:45 AM

Upstate S.C.

Glenn, I checked your photo's and after I went out this morning and found all of the main vines I think I may have to do the same thing. I would like to get some more responses on this issue before I do it. Should I cut off the second true leaf, the main is growing right above it and the second true leaf is keeping it from hitting the ground. Or should I wait until the weekend is over to see if it runs on its on. Thanks so much everyone, and thanks to you Glenn

5/29/2009 1:55:44 PM

Midwest

Just an idea that I got from others... mound soil underneath the main (where the 2nd leaf is located) to close the gap between it and the soil. Make a contour so the mound slopes gently down to normal level. I like to think the main is like glass and isn't stable above the ground.

5/29/2009 2:23:27 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Give it a foot and see if it's wanting to go down other than that leaf... is my vote. Oh, I have a seesaw, 1100 Hester went down then decided since it touched a soda bottle full of water, to self veer and rise again. Busy convincing it right now to mend ways with bamboo stakes... I do not want it making that 45 degree towards the pond AND standing up as well. Sigh.

5/29/2009 7:13:06 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Chris, I posted another pic in my diary that shows the results after 2 days.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=106371

The coin is at the point were the 2nd true leaf was and to the right of that in the picture is the 3rd true leaf.

In this case, mounding soil underneath the 2nd leaf would have only raised it up even further from the desired landing site on the soil.

I needed to trim both 2nd true leaves from my plants this year for them to settle down properly.

5/29/2009 7:26:25 PM

In lew of triming leaves you can also dig a trench for that leaf stalk to drop into as it settles in the vine will be resting on the soil.

More than one way to skin a cat. (oops sorry Judy)

5/29/2009 8:51:51 PM

Ohio

Chris, I will sometimes dig the dirt out from under the plant as far back as the stump to let the plant have a little slack to lay down, you would be surprised how much a little section of a leaf stalk can hold your vine straight up in the air, but once you remove the dirt from under it , its almost always gives the plant a little slack to to lay down some.

If that dont work I will mound soil up to the end of the main vine just to keep it from breaking on me. Then in a few days I will go back and remove the soil from under the vine, and it will usually lay down really nice.

There is also times when mounding doesnt work or removing soil from under the vine to get it to lay down, so you might need to turn your vine or plant slightly at different angles to get it to lay down also. Be easy with it though, lots of different ways to get her to lay down.

5/29/2009 9:33:13 PM

Upstate S.C.

Glenn, and the rest of you thanks so much for all the advice. Glenn your advice worked, I went and cut the second true leaf on both plants and with in 2 hours, the main had started laying down. It was truly amazing. I will post pic's tommorrow. I may be on the ground by morning. Thanks again everyone.

5/29/2009 9:57:35 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Good luck Chris!

5/29/2009 10:01:33 PM

Upstate S.C.

Thank u so very much Doug14...Go Vikes

5/29/2009 11:16:23 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

They look good now Chris. Should really start taking off in the next week or 10 days!!

5/30/2009 7:21:47 PM